Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Hey, friend. Welcome to Perspectives into Practice, a place where life's stories meet practical wisdom. Together, we'll explore how faith filled perspectives can transform the way we live, love and grow. So grab a seat, settle in and join us on this journey to turn inspiration into action. Let's dive in foreign.
[00:00:29] Hey, hey. Hey. I am so glad that you are back. This is our first official episode. It's just me today because I wanted to share with you, just my heart behind all of this, share with you a little bit about who I am and what you can expect through each week, what you are going to hear and the stories that are going to be shared. And it's going to be amazing. It's going to be a really fun journey that I get to take with you. Hopefully my new friends and this will be a space where me and my friends and you will share stories, explore life lessons, discover practical ways to live better, more faith filled lives, and be the women of God that he wants us to be. And through the stories that are being shared. This is called Perspectives into Practice. What does it even mean, Jessica?
[00:01:31] Perspective. I want to teach you through these stories, through these lessons, these trials, these tribulation, the good, the bad, the up, the down, the valleys, the mountains, what you hear each week from these ladies, you're going to hear different perspectives. We might have the same experience, but our stories may be completely different because we were coming from a different perspective. And so when you look back at a life event and I'll share, I'll share something in a moment with you, but when you look back at a life event and you ask the Lord, lord, what am I supposed to learn from this? What, what can I take away from this? Or even just ask yourself, all right, Jessica, what could we have done better there? What could we do differently next time? And then take that and apply it to your life. So the next time that something rolls around, maybe the same thing is, is coming up, it's happening, or you have a friend that's going through something, you can be like, dude, I just went through something very similar.
[00:02:43] Can I share it with you and explain this different perspective that you have put into practice in your own life and hopefully that can help them as well. And so that's honestly, in a nutshell, what this podcast is. You're going to hear from me and my friends and we're just going to share life, we're going to share stories and it's going to be amazing. I am so excited and expectant that the Lord is going to be working through this podcast.
[00:03:17] So a little bit about me. You know, my name is Jessica and I am married to my best friend Jeremy. We have been married going, I think it's going on 18 years. I think we've been married for 17.
[00:03:33] So you know, when you get past a certain point, I think we're, we're married in 2007, so. 987. Yeah. So you math folks, tell me, how long have I been married? I think it's 17 years. We have four amazing children from 9 years old to 15 years old. And we just adopted a new sweet puppy, remy. She is 4 and a half ish months old at the time of this podcast and she is just a, she's just a joy. She's a red golden doodle. And if you know anything about goldendoodles, they are just little.
[00:04:16] They're just so cute and weird and rambunctious and like she has so many nicknames, it's honestly insane. But we travel full time in a 40 foot motor coach. And so this is an RV it, we call her Abby the Adventure Bus. And we've been traveling for about three years now. And we absolutely love it. And honestly, our travels have brought me to this podcast. So as we travel, we go through a lot of things.
[00:04:57] Surprise, surprise. Travel isn't always sunshine and rainbows. It's just not. And sometimes there's a lot of ick that happens and sometimes there's a lot of great that happens. And one of the things that our family has been working on in these last three years is figuring out asking ourselves, just like what I was saying earlier is, what can we do differently next time with this? Because sometimes as a family, you can imagine there's six of us plus a dog now in 300 square feet. And it can get a little tight sometimes, especially on travel days when we are just right on top of each other and emotions are high and you know, it's tense and elevated and it's crazy. And sometimes we overreact. And you know what, it might not be exactly what needed to happen, but it is something that happened. So we take a moment, okay, what can we do different next time?
[00:06:05] What can we take away from this situation? And we've been applying that to the next time. Like, hey, remember when we did such and such? Yeah. We decided we're not doing that again.
[00:06:19] Let me give you an example of that. So when we first started traveling and being in the RV world is just a different, it's a different experience and we knew absolutely nothing.
[00:06:34] So we get on the road. And because it's a different arena, we really were making it up as we went. Like, every time that we would travel to a new place, a lot of times on travel days, in the beginning, we got so frustrated with each other because there was a lot of things going on. A lot of times we were, like, overly hot there. You know, we were hooking things up in the back. We were putting things in. In the. In, inside. We were making sure that everything was put away in a certain place, that when we drive, it doesn't fall out. It's just. It's a lot of thing. A lot of heightened emotion. And when we first started traveling, little things got us so frustrated. And it was things that, honestly, we were out of our control, like traffic and weather and poor drivers.
[00:07:35] Those kind of things. We can't.
[00:07:38] We can't change. We are. Have absolutely no control. But what we do have control over is our own reaction to those things. And so when we first started traveling, I drove a lot different than I do now.
[00:07:56] Let me explain. So I used to drive more in a hustle and bustle. And you're like, jessica, why are you talking about driving? Okay, just stay with me. Okay, stay with me. I used to drive in a hustle and bustle. Like, it was a hurry to get everywhere that we went. And honestly, looking back, there wasn't a real reason for that. It was just like everyone was doing that. Everyone else was rushing. And that is just what I had been accustomed to. And what, you know, we just do as a society is we just rush here and rush there. And so as we travel, we are taking £40,000 in this bus and driving it, pulling our truck behind us. And, like, that's our home. That's our family. And so when I drive now, I am a lot more cautious, a lot more. I think it's defensive is the word. So I'm leaving a lot more room for the people in front of me, because stopping £40,000 doesn't happen easily. 40,000? Yes, 40,000. I said that. Right?
[00:09:03] And giving more room. Oh, being okay when there's traffic, because I can't help it. There's no reason that I need to get up on the, you know, the back bumper of someone and then scoot to one. One lane, because that one looks faster, and scoot to another one. And I'm just. I'm just here for it all. And it's something that in the beginning, we were like, okay, let's get to the place. And then we sat down and thought, what can we do differently about travel days because every travel day seems like a nightmare. And so many people, if you were to ask most rvers, they say that travel days are the worst. And honestly, now that we have changed our perspective, travel days are the. Are not the worst. They are not the worst. We enjoy them. We thank the Lord that we get to go to a new place, a new experience to meet new people, and that in between part that traveling is just part of the journey. And so now that we have asked ourselves, why do we need to rush? What can we do differently about travel days to make it not so crazy? We enjoy. It's so much more.
[00:10:21] So that is where this kind of came from. Is this Perspectives into Practice. I also the words Perspectives into Practice. So I wrote, many years ago, I wrote a series of devotionals. And in there I, at the, at the end of each devotional, I wrote, it's a little portion called Perspectives into Practice. And it really is just that. It is a place where what you've learned from the devotional itself, you're able to apply. So I give you a practical application for what you just learned and give you a challenge to go implement that in your lives. And so that is something that came from the devotional, actually, originally, now that I'm like thinking this all through and those words. But it's something that we actually started doing in our daily lives.
[00:11:20] And then the Lord continued to put it on my heart to share this with more people. And here we are, here we are with Perspectives into Practice podcast, and we're going to have so much fun each week. You're going to meet my friends, you're going to hear their stories. Hopefully you'll be able to relate. And if you don't relate exactly to the story, I hope that you can still take some of these practical applications and apply them to your life or share them with someone that you know. You're always hearing people share their stories, share their lives. You're hearing different things, and hopefully this will be a way that you can share with others.
[00:12:04] And I want this to be a separate, safe place for you so that you can hear these stories, know that you're not alone, and also increase your faith and your walk with the Lord. And it's going to be so wonderful. I seriously am just giddy on this side because I can't wait to hear from you. I can't wait to hear from my friends. And hopefully maybe you will be on one of these podcasts and, and you'll get to share your story. I really Want it to be open for all people, not just. Not just someone with a name or a title, because there's a lot of those out there. But every single one of us has a story, and we've learned something from what we've gone through. And God is so good in that. He's so good in allowing us to experience things.
[00:13:07] It's us that have to then look back and choose to learn from them or ask him, what are. What can we learn from that? And then move forward in that and apply it.
[00:13:24] Because there. There's. So. There's a saying, you know better, you do better. And while on one hand, I absolutely believe that when you know better, you can do better. But not always when we know something, do we do better. And so that's a choice that we get to take and choose in our daily lives when things go awry or things are wonderful. So let me ask you this.
[00:13:49] Are you one of those people that in the middle of a trial or tribulation or a storm, you ask the Lord, lord, what is all this for? What? What is all this for? Why are you doing this? Or are you one that in the middle of something like that, you say, God, what can I learn from this experience? What can I use from this for your glory? What can I teach others and share with others from this?
[00:14:23] And then on the opposite side, if something is good and joyful happening in your life, are you one of those that just.
[00:14:32] Are there, just. Just there for the moment? This is wonderful. It's great. Or are you one of those that asks the Lord, God, thank you for this time? What can I take away from this moment? It's so good. What can I learn from this right here and take forward into my life?
[00:14:56] If you are not one of those that asks questions during good or bad, highs and lows, I want this podcast to help you. These little chats that we have, I want that to be able to help you to start asking questions.
[00:15:14] I want you to have a dialogue and a conversation and a relationship with your heavenly Father, because he wants that for you and with you so bad. I want that for you because I know how amazing it is to have a relationship with him. I know what it's like to go through really, really hard times, and I know what it's like to go through really, really great times.
[00:15:43] I also have been learning over the past decade to ask the Lord, and I'm practicing this. This is not something that just happened overnight. So don't hear me saying, oh, Jessica's perfect at this. No she ain't.
[00:15:59] I have been practicing for over a decade now.
[00:16:03] Asking the Lord, in the midst of the pain, in the midst of the storm, in the midst of the joy, in the midst of the peace, Father, what can I learn from this situation? What can I take away from this?
[00:16:19] What can I use to share with others?
[00:16:23] Lord, what are you doing for my good and your glory in this?
[00:16:29] And you will be amazed that when you ask and you listen, friend, it will change your life. And I am not saying that it being exaggeratory. I'm telling you that it will literally change your life. When you begin asking these questions and listening for the answer. Those times when you ask that, it's a pivotal moment in your life where a shift in perspective is going to help you to grow. Whether applying that for you or for a friend or for a stranger, God wants to use you in your life. Your stories, your testimony.
[00:17:15] He wants to use that and he wants you to share what you're going through.
[00:17:21] He wants you to talk to him and about him and have that relationship. And I want that for you. I am praying for that for you.
[00:17:36] But you have to put in the work.
[00:17:38] You have to put in the work, sister. It's a two way street. But guess what? No matter if you are working on your journey with the Lord or never started one in the first place, or maybe you're in a really deep dark spot and you don't even want to talk to him. And trust me, I know exactly what that feels like. I've been there.
[00:17:59] No matter where you are in your journey, God isn't changing.
[00:18:07] He is immovable. He hasn't gone anywhere. He hasn't ignored you.
[00:18:12] He hasn't turned away from you.
[00:18:15] He is sitting waiting for you to talk to him.
[00:18:20] He's waiting to hear from you. And that could be as simple as Jesus just saying his name is powerful enough. It could be saying, father, I don't know what is going on in my life, but I know you do. And I trust you.
[00:18:40] I trust you in whatever it is.
[00:18:45] I trust you. I give it to you.
[00:18:49] Thank you Jesus for this time. I thank you for this season.
[00:18:56] Lord, teach me what I'm supposed to learn.
[00:19:01] Talk to me, sister. Get in. His Word. His Word. I love to call the Bible, I love to call it God's love letters to us because it's everything that we need to live a life of godliness. Everything that we need is in there. It's like our instruction manual for life. And so when we are reading God's word, when we are reading what he has written for us.
[00:19:31] We get to know what he sounds like. So when we ask him, lord, talk to me, we actually know what he sounds like and we're able. That's actually one of the ways that you're able to differentiate is this me thinking this or is this the Lord? And we will have. And I am so excited, we'll have an entire podcast about deciphering and discerning the Lord speaking to you. And what does that sound like? And that's an exciting one.
[00:20:02] But honestly, ladies, that's how it starts.
[00:20:05] That's how it starts is reading God's word, praying to him, talking to him.
[00:20:14] Sometimes it seems too formal to say we're praying. Doesn't have to be formal.
[00:20:22] He just wants to talk to you like we're doing here. He wants to hear what you have to say, what you're thinking, whether that's amazing things or terrible things, he wants to hear it. Just like your best friend, he wants to hear it.
[00:20:39] Will you talk to him today?
[00:20:43] Will you open up your Bible and read a verse? Doesn't even matter where you start.
[00:20:51] Psalm 119 is an amazing psalm to read. It is rich with so much goodness. It's one of the longest psalm, actually, but it is so good. So if you want to open up to Psalm 119 and read a verse from there, do that. Talk to your heavenly Father.
[00:21:16] Okay, this got. This got really deep. But that is one of those things is like, you know, when, when the Lord start speaking through me, it's sometimes it's going to be deep like that and sometimes it's going to hurt. And because we're friends. I think we're friends, right? Because we're friends. That's something that you should know about me, is that I'm going to tell you the truth with grace because I want you to hear it. I don't want you to ever have an experience with me, especially through these, these short 20 to 30 minute chats. I don't want you to leave and think that I haven't given you the truth because you deserve it. You deserve the truth. You deserve a friend on this side that's going to lift you up and encourage you and be there for you and pray for you. And you deserve that friend. And I want to be here for you. So thank you for your time. Thank you for listening.
[00:22:17] Thank you for being here and sharing this podcast with your friends.
[00:22:25] It really does mean a lot to me. It means a whole, whole bunch. So please subscribe if seriously, if this sounds like something that you need or that you want, or you have a friend that needs it, please make sure to hit the subscribe button so that you don't miss an episode. We'll be here every single week sitting down with you. It's going to be amazing. So thank you again for your time. Thank you for being here, supporting me, praying for me, encouraging me in this. And I pray that this space becomes a source of encouragement and inspiration for you.
[00:23:07] And remember, even small shifts in perspective can lead to big changes in your life. Now go put those perspectives into practice. I'll talk to you next time, friend.
